Cigarette container



1932- w. E. MOLINS CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 26, 1932. w. E. MOLINS CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMM Jan. 26, 1932. w. E. MOLINS 1,842,727

0 IGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 LJ L i l l:

INVEN7UR.

Jan. 26, 1932. w. E. MouNs 1,842,727

CIGARETTE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNl'lED STATES TENT OFFECIE WALTER EVERETT MOLINS, F

CIGARETTE Application filed September 17, 1927, Serial No.

This invention is for improvements in or relatingto a carton for cigarettes or simllarly shaped articles, and has for its object the provision of a cigarette container which will 53 render the cigarettes easier of access and in addition retain each cigarette firmly in position even after some of the cigarettes have been removed from the container.

The present invention consists of a carton for cigarettes or similarly shaped articles which comprises two U shaped block ended pockets each formed so as to hold a single row of cigarettes with the axes thereof dis posed parallel to the mouth of the pocket, a flap hingingly connecting the two pockets in such a manner as to permit the same to be opened out into line with the open ends of the pockets directed towards one another and to extend automatically across the open ends of the two pockets and form the sole closure element for the same when one pocket is folded upon the other, and a slot: extending at right angles to the axes of the cigarettes in each pocket and located in that broad side of each pocket which bears against the other pocket when the two pockets are folded one upon the other.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a carton constructed according to the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate cartons constructed according to the present invention 5 having means for securing the cigarettes in position within the container;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate three blanks from which a carton constructed according to the present invention may be formed;

Figures l" and 8 illustrate in detail means for facilitating removal of cigarettes applicable to any of the forms of carton disclosed herein, and

l igures 9 and 10 illustrate the manner in which a carton may be formed from two separate pockets.

llefcrring to Figs. 1 and 4, there is illustrated a carton constructed according to the F present invei'ition and formed from a rectangular strip of cardboard, strawboard, or

DEPTFORD, LONDON, ENGLAND CONTAINER 220,165, and in Great Britain October 28, 1926.

like material, Fig. 4, provided at its midlength with two cut-away portions 1 located on either side thereof and formed of a depth equal substantially to the diameter of one of the cigarettes to be packed, and of a len th equal to the diameter of two cigarettes. The cut-away portions 1 are arranged to divide the strip into two rectangular sections, one located on either side of a central portion 2, hereinafter referred to as the flap. Each rectangular strip is adapted to be folded about its mid-length 3 so as to form a U shaped block ended pocket open at one end with the mouths of the respective pockets directed towards one another as illustrated in Fig. 1. The thickness of the pocket is ar ranged slightly less than the diameter of a cigarette. The width of the said rectangular strip is made equal to the length of a cigarette plus an amount slightly less than twice the f diameter of the cigarettes to be packed. ltach U shaped block ended pocket is subjected to a folding and tucking operation which folds the side extensions 5 of the broad side 6 of the pocket upwardly, whereupon the side extensions 4 of the end of the pocket are folded upwardly towards the open end of the mouth of the pocket, and the extensions 7 of the other broad side 8 of the pocket: are folded downwardly upon the side extensions 5 to permit them to besealed together in any desired manner.

Each end of the rectangular strip from which the carton is folded, is provided with a longitudinal slot 9 of a length slightly less than the length of the broad side 8 of the folded pocket. The slot 9 is formed of a width su'liicient to enable the finger or thumb of a person to be inserted therein so as to move a cigarette towards the mouth of the pocket.

Due to the fact that the sides of the pocket are formed slightly less than the diameter of a cigarette, it will be found that when the cigarettes are packed within the pockets, the ends of the same are gripped lightly by the sides of the pocket which thereby prevent the cigarettes from becoming easily dislodged.

It will be appreciated that instead of the carton being formed from the single rectangular strip illustrated in Fig. 4, the same may be formed from a rectangular strip 12 (Fig. 6), having two side extensions 10 and 11, which side extensions are adapted to be folded in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rectangular strip 12 and secured along the bottom edge 13 and one side 14: so as to form a carton of substantially the shape illustrated in Fig. 1. WVhen the carton is formed from a blank of the above character, it will be appreciated that the two side extensions 10 and 11 are provided with'the slot 9 hereinbefore referred to. v

Further, the carton, if necessary, may be built up of two U shaped block ended pockets 15 and 16 (Fig. .9.) each provided with an extension flap 17, to one broad side, of a length equal to twice the diameter of the cigarettes to be packed. The extension flaps of two pockets are sealed together so as to form a carton (Fig. 10) wherein the open ends are directed towards one another when the carton is in an extendelcondition, and wherein the flap between the pockets is arranged to extend across the open ends of the pockets when one is folded upon the other;

JFurther, with any of the cartons hereinbefore described, the slot 9 provided in one broad side of the pocket may be provided with scallops 18 (Fig. 2) along one or both of the edges which lie transverse to the direction of the axes of the cigarettes, in such a manner that each scallop partly encircles a cigarette located withinthe pocket and the free end of the scallops are depressed and are located in the spaces between adjacent cigarettes so that the free ends of the said scallops also prevent the cigarettes from moving when a neighbouring cigarette is. removed out of adjacency thereto.

Again, instead of the edges of the slot being scalloped, the portions 19 (Fig. 3) of the pocket located on either side of the slot 9, may be slit so as to form tongues 20 which are depressed so that a portion. of the material of the pocket lies in the space between adjacent cigarettes so as to retain the cigarettes in position within the pocket.

Any ofthe various forms of cartons may be supplied with a tag 22, 23 to facilitate re moval of the cigarettes from the carton as illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, 7. and 8. For this purpose the cartonmay be arranged so that the portion 22 (Fig. 5) which is cut so as to provide the longitudinal slot 9 is arranged to be tucked around the bottom of the pocket and conform to the shape thereof (Fig. 7) so that the extension of the tag which is removed'to form the slot lies flush with and extends along the rear wall of the pocket. In this manner, the cigarettes placed inside the container lie on top of the tag 22 and the cigarette located adjacent to the block ended end of each pocket presses the tag into engagement with the sealed end of the pocket.

When all the cigarettes have been removed from thepocket with the exception of the last one, the tag 22 may be pulled in the direction of the mouth of the pocket, and in so doing remove the last cigarette so that the same may be easily removed from the pocket.

Thus it will be seen that according to the present invention all of the material employed for forming the oarton'may be cut from a rectangular sheet of material without any waste whatsoever, and means may be provided whereby each cigarette may be removed from the pocket without damaging the same.

If necessary, the end 23 ofthe tag may be bent upwardly so as to extend between the third and fourth cigarette in each pocket so as'to enable the tag to be easily held between the finger and the thumb.

Thusit will be seen that according to the present invention there is provided a carton wherein the cigarettes are adapted to be located within each pocket with their longitudinal axes parallel to the mouth of the pocket, and wherein the cigarettes are held against unintentional displacement, but, nevertheloss, may be easily removed from'the carton aseach cigarette is required.

It will be found that with a carton of the character hereinbefore set forth, the same amount of material is employed as is necessary'to form a slide and-shell container, but it w i'll be observed that contrary to the slide and shell container, the carton maybe formed upon one machine, whereas in the case of slide and shell containers it is necessary to form the shells upon a complicated and expensive machine. and thereafter assemble the slides and shells .upon a further machine.

' It will be appreciated that if necessary, the cigarettes'may be enveloped or partly enveloped in a strip of foil and the carton may be enveloped in anouter covering of thin transparent paper.

-What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A cigarette container comprising a sub stantially rectangular pocket one end of which is open and which is of such dimensions as to accommodate a row of cigarettes with their axes disposed parallel to the said openend, said pocket being provided with a slot formed in the front wall thereof and disposedsubstantially at right angles to the direction of the axes of the enclosed cigarettes, and a strip formed of the material cut away to form said slot and arranged to be tucked around the closed end of the pocket so as to conform to the shape thereof, one end of said strip being accessible through said slot to facilitate removal of cigarettes from the pocket.

2. A cigarette container comprising a substantially rectangular pocket one end of which is open and which is of such dimensions as to accommodate a row of cigarettes with their Bill till

axes disposed parallel to the said open end, said pocket being provided with a slot formed in the front wall thereof and disposed sub stantially at right angles to the direction of the axes of the enclosed cigarettes so as to facilitate removal of the cigarettes from the pocket, one wall of said pocket being slotted to provide [n'ojecting portions engaging the cigarettes for preventing unintentional displacement thereof toward the mouth of the pocket 3. A. cigarette container comprising a subslantially rectangular. pocket one end of which open and which is of such dimensions as to accommodate a row of cigarettes with their axes disposed parallel to the said open end, said pocket being provided with a slot formed in the front Wall thereof and disposed substantially at right angles to the direction of the axes of the enclosed cigarettes so as to facilitate removal of the cig-l arettes from the pocket, one wall of the slot being in turn slotted to form projecting portions engaging the cigarettes, whereby unintentional displacement thereof is prevented.

4. A cigarette container comprising a substantially rectangular pocket having front and back walls, side walls, and one end wall, the front and back walls being of such width that the pocket will receive a row of cigarettes disposed with their axes parallel to the end wall, and the side walls being of slightly less width than the diameter of a cigarette so that the front and back walls will grip lightly upon the ends of the cigarettes, said pocket being provided with a slot formed in the front wall thereof and disposed substantially at right angles to the direction of the axes of the enclosed cigarettes to facilitate removal thereof from the pocket, the walls of the slot being serrated to engage the cigarettes whereby unintentional displacement thereof is prevented.

5. A carton for cigarettes or similarly shaped articles which comprises two U shaped block ended pockets each formed so as to hold a single row of cigarettes with the axes of the cigarettes disposed parallel to the mouth of the pocket, a flap hingingly connecting the two pockets in such a manner as to permit the same to be opened out into line with the open ends of the pockets directed towards one another and to extend across the open ends of the two pockets and form the sole closure element for the same when one pocket is folded upon the other, each pocket being provided with a slot extending at right angles to the axes of the cigarettes and located in! that broad side of each pocket which bears against the other pocket when the two pockets are folded one upon the other, the walls of the slot being serrated to form projecting portions for engaging the individual cigarettes for retaining the latter against unintentional misplacement.

6. A cigarette container comprising a sub stantially rectangular pocket, one end of which is open and which is of such dimensions as to accommodate a row of cigarettes With their axes disposed parallel to the said open end, said pocket being provided with a slot formed in the front wall thereof and disposed substantially at right angles to the direction of the axes of the enclosed cigarettes, and a strip arranged to be tucked around the closed end of the pocket so as to conform to the shape thereof, one end of said strip being accessible through said slot to facilitate removal of cigarettes from the pocket.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS. 

